Words from Russell – Update on transition of mental health services

As the mental health service transition and integration program of work builds momentum, I’m excited to inform our staff and those of our partner health services – North Western Mental Health and Mercy Mental Health – of the imminent recruitment of the project team.

A number of key positions will soon be advertised, building a team that will join our Director, Transition and Integration Paula Stephenson in undertaking this exciting program of work to welcome staff, consumers and services to Western Health from the beginning of July 2023.

Of note is the recruitment to the inaugural Director of Nursing Mental Health role. This role will initially join Paula in the project team to establish the role and provide vital expertise as the clinical lead. When services and staff transition, the Director of Nursing Mental Health will assume the lead professional nursing role of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Service reporting to Shane Crowe, Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery.

Other positions soon to be advertised include Senior Project Manager and Project Officer roles, with more roles across a range of essential business and service functions to follow shortly. Please keep an eye out for these internally and on seek.com.au. If you would like to enquire about opportunities to join the project team, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with Paula at paula.stephenson@wh.org.au

The work program will be overseen by a steering committee and a number of work streams will be established to undertake all of the necessary changes to prepare us for a seamless transition. The first meetings will be held before the end of the year.

In October, I provided an update on the early transfer of the Western Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (formerly Ursula Frayne Centre) from Mercy Mental Health to Mid West Area Mental Health Service. I’m pleased to report that the transition took place earlier this month and Mid West Area Mental Health Service will start orientation with the new team from 28 November with the facility set to open up to six beds from 7 December, operating as a women’s only mental health ward.

Once the wider transition and integration team is up and running, we expect to deliver more regular communications and engagement to current Western Health staff as well as colleagues coming to us from North Western Mental Health and Mercy Mental Health mid next year.